Japan, the losers of the war would like to honor their dead in a temple of their native religion. The Chinese refuse to acknowledge a different government and different ideals.
I can see the problem with Japan never officially acknowledging the warcrimes, through an act of Parliament. But really? Must this always be brought up by the Chinese? What would really be enough for them?
It seems that this has been going on for millenia.
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It may have been going on for 'millenia' but many of the victims of these war crimes are still living.
The problem here is one of face. Japan really needs to get down and lick boot, and it never will. I mean, we're taling about war crimes that make Milosevic look like Mr. Rogers.
I am sympathetic to Japan. I admire their culture and the idea of continuous improvement. But this is not enough. I don't expect it will ever be enough.
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China is scary. Japan is doing what it can to try and keep the peace without losing face. I think this is the best they probably can do, politically.
But it won't stop China from kicking everyone's @ss if they have a mind to do it.
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The official history taught in Japanese school textbooks is that Japan was thwarted by the forces of colonialism in its courageous altruistic attempt to bring peace&freedom&modernization&Enlightenment to Asia via the Co-Prosperity Sphere.
When the government forces its children, future citizens/voters to learn such jingoistic nonsense as the Truth, any apology given to outsiders is naturally seen as insincere. Especially when convicted WWII war criminals are given reverential treatment by the Japanese government.
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How would you feel if Germany had a yearly national holiday commemorating Hitler and his henchmen? And German history books proclaimed that the Nazis were guilty only of trying to bring civilization to Europe?
It's recent if it is still within the direct experience of those who are still living. Considering that Japan has many post-centenarians, and that China/Korea/etc will have proportionally as many post-centenarians as living standards improve -- even if there is no improvement in gerontological medicine -- it'll be the 2070s before WWII truly falls into the past. It won't be a case of "the sins of the fathers upon the children" until the fathers are dead.
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Germany doesn't revere and worship their ancestors, as in Shinto. We are talking about completely differing cultures.
I don't think it will be enough even when every last person is dead that lived through the war. These prejudices border on racism--just as the Japanese have been prejudiced as well. These problems have, at their base, fundamental roots in a history of strife. Much like the Middle East. I think that's the main problem, and, as a citizen of the Pacific Rim, it concerns me when tensions heat up.
When I think of China, I think "What of freedom?" When I think of Japan, I think "What of humility?" These arguments just keep going on without resolution. Someone has to stop blaming and start healing, and China sure isn't at this point.
What would be enough for China? Manifest Destiny?
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quote:The official history taught in Japanese school textbooks is that Japan was thwarted by the forces of colonialism in its courageous altruistic attempt to bring peace&freedom&modernization&Enlightenment to Asia via the Co-Prosperity Sphere.
When the government forces its children, future citizens/voters to learn such jingoistic nonsense as the Truth, any apology given to outsiders is naturally seen as insincere. Especially when convicted WWII war criminals are given reverential treatment by the Japanese government.
Do you have a cite for this? I've discussed this with a few actual Japanese people and they claim that the textbooks in question are actually only used in less than 2% of schools.
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It is very unfortunate that the Chinese government is exploiting events like the Nanjing Massacre for political gain.
To a certain extent, I do sympathize with the POV of the average Chinese citizen. If someone came into our country and killed 200,000 people in New York City, I think we would be extremely bitter as well.
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Until the Japanese government is willing to give its own future citizens a more accurate picture of Japan's role in WWII as something to be ashamed of, there is no "we have learned a lesson", and there is no "we will not repeat that mistake". And thus there is no true apology.
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